Bargain Barcelona: Top five attractions for free

On a bone-chilling December morning, a thick sea mist shrouds Venice’s towers and palazzi. The alleys are filled with damp, salty air and infrequent hurried footsteps. At this hour, few people are out enjoying the city, but it is a truly magical moment.

South Florida’s Gold Coast is renowned for its blue skies, pristine beaches, and ritzy lifestyle. Anchored by Miami to the south and Palm Beach to the north, this stretch of Atlantic coastline has long been a playground for the rich and famous. Smack dab in the middle of the Gold Coast is Fort Lauderdale. The tropical metropolis is sometimes overlooked for its glitzier neighbors when it comes to vacation locales — the city was once best known as the capital of spring break pilgrimages and, in more recent years, as a popular cruise ship port — but thanks to recent development, a thriving arts and culture community, an evolving culinary scene, and its laid-back vibe, Fort Lauderdale is now one of the state’s must-visit destinations.

Attention, all travel enthusiasts. If you want to maximize your travel plans and book an additional flight at no extra cost, booking a Flying Blue stopover can help unlock more value from your miles. In 2022, Air France-KLM Flying Blue began allowing stopovers on its own one-way, round-trip and multi-city award ticketed flights. Then, in 2023, the airline loyalty program expanded stopovers to all partner award tickets.

If holiday shopping makes your head spin, why not search for a gift that has no cost at all. This winter, there are several contests, sweepstakes and giveaways for free trips in the new year that could be worth the five minutes it takes to sign up. Here are some of the top offers available this month.

United Airlines is betting big on Spain: On December 6, the carrier announced that for the first time, it is launching new nonstop service between San Francisco and Barcelona for summer 2024. Together with its other Spain routes, that marks a 30 percent increase in flights to Spain in 2024 compared to 2023.

Every day at 11:11am there is a ritual: we make a wish. And every day at 11:11am, we have been wishing for this year’s most over-the-top, extraordinary and extra-plus travel experiences (and luggage).

President Joe Biden is a self-described train fan, commuting between Washington, D.C. and Delaware on Amtrak for decades as a Senator. Now to beef up U.S. passenger rail, his administration is doling out more than $8 billion, including funds for two high-speed trains in California and Nevada.

IHG One Rewards members who hold Diamond Elite status or belong to IHG's Business Rewards program can now transfer up to 500,000 IHG One Rewards points per calendar year to other members without paying any transfer fees, as first reported by One Mile at a Time.

America’s national parks are some of the most beautiful spots in the entire country, and next year travelers will be able to visit them all for free on six different days. 

New Year, new national park to check off your must-visit list? Mark your calendars: The park system just announced a half dozen “free days” for 2024 that are spread throughout the year, beginning with Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 15, 2024.

Hidden away in the snowy north of Finland is Santa’s Official Post Office. The sorting center, located in Rovaniemi, is expected to receive over 30,000 letters daily from children and adults around the world this year. In a bid to attract novice elves, Santa Claus’ Cabin has been listed on Airbnb for guests—free of charge—to roll up their sleeves, lend a hand with the backlog of letters and experience the joy of the holiday season from the Arctic Circle.

Chef Lawrence H. Abrams brings robust experience including classical French and Cajun cuisine to The St. Regis Deer Valley’s culinary teams.